By Andrew Vahradian
At the 2015 American Academy of Orthopaedics (AAOS) annual meeting this week, Stryker announced that it received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for a total hip arthroplasty application for its MAKO surgical robotic system.
With this approval, Stryker will now be able to offer proprietary femoral and acetabular implants for complementary use with its MAKO platform. This expanded indication for MAKO advances the company’s strategic initiative to differentiate itself by offering implants through a robotic platform that aims to enhance patient outcomes compared to traditional manual orthopedic surgery. 
Presently, Stryker utilizes MAKO to perform partial knee resurfacing, an application that has been one of the primary growth drivers of the company’s knee business. In a recent Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) survey, surgeons cited three reasons for why they would use a surgical robotic system to perform orthopedic procedures: 1) ease of use, 2) the ability to assist in technically challenging procedures and 3) the capacity to replicate results.
To expand MAKO’s application even further, management is aiming to receive FDA clearance for a total knee construction procedures later this year.
Additionally, Johnson & Johnson announced a partnership with Google this week to develop a robotic-assisted surgical platform directed at the cancer and women’s health markets.